◇ Orix Buffaloes vs. Chiba Lotte Marines, Game 17 (26th · Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes ・ Ryo Ota A player hit his seventh solo home run.

The batting lineup struggled against the opposing starter, Jackson pitcher, going 4-hit with no runs through the 5th inning. Trailing 0–3 in the bottom of the 6th with one out and runner, Ota connected on a pitch down the middle fastball. The ball soared center fielder and struck the back screen directly. Seizing the opportunity presented by a poor pitch, he launched a home run that signaled the start of the comeback.

Ota has been on a hot streak in this series, recording a walk-off hit in the first game and a two-run homer in the second—marking two consecutive games with two RBI hits. In this game as well, he drove in the team’s first run and is leading the offense.

◇ Ota’s Comments
“I stepped into the batter’s box determined to be aggressive with my swing right from the first pitch. I think I made perfect contact.”

Text by Kana Niwa